Building construction



Nov. 8, 1960 G. w. BAKER 2,958,982

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ya 72 66 78 as INVENTOR.

/- QQM 1%MMM Z.

Nov. 8, 1960 G. w. BAKER 2,958,982

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 195 3 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 8, 1960 G. w. BAKER 2,958,982

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 17, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 "IIIJEL IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 8, 1960 e. w. BAKER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 17, 1953 INVENTOR. 94076 3% BY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION George W. Baker, Chicago Heights, Ill., assignor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, III., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 17, 1953, Ser. No. 374,545

7 Claims. (Cl. 50-144) 'This invention relates to an improved building construction, and more particularly to an improved demountable partition construction for use in buIldingS.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved construction and assembly means for demountable partitions. The prior art is replete with disclosures of various quickly assemblable partitions for use in commercial buildings and of various appurtenances and hardware suitable for securing such partitions in desired semipermanent locations. These prior structures have generally required a construction beginning at a terminal point such as an outside wall and the sequential mounting of a series of panels in abutting end-to-end relationship to terminate at a second point such as an opposed outside wall or another partition. Thus if it were later found desirable to remove a single panel from the series it would be necessary either to begin at a terminal end and remove all of the panels up to and including the desired panel or to destroy the desired panel in removing it individually. Some individually removable metal partitions have been disclosed heretofore but these have generally been unsatisfactory as they are expensive and difficult to fabricate and handle.

Therefore it is a further object of this invention to provide an improved demountable partition for building construction which is simple in design and construction and may be handled readily in assembly and disassembly.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved wall construction in which individual panels comprising said wall are readily removable without disturbing the remainder thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved demountable partition which is inexpensive both in fabrication and assembly.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved demountable partition which has an attractive surface and may be constructed of fireproof material such as gypsum board.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved demountable partition which is not destroyed or damaged in removal.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved demountable partition which is quickly removable to provide accessibility in any predetermined area of a building surface.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improved means for mounting stud members in spaced relationship, positioning planar sections in abutting relationship against said stud members, and securing such planar sections to the associated stud members.

Further and additional objects of this invention will become manifest from a consideration of this description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In one form of this invention a demountable wall is constructed by securing longitudinal runners in parallel coplanar relationship on a ceiling and associated floor. A plurality of vertical members or studsare secured by means of stud shoes between said runners in substantially "nited States Patent() parallel spaced relationship, and wall panels are disposed against said runners between adjacent studs and on both sides thereof to produce a continuous wall of connected panels completely concealing the runners and studs contained therebetween.

More particularly, in one embodiment illustrated, each of the studs has a longitudinal recess formed therein which is adapted to receive one laminated edge of an associated wall panel. The spacing of adjacent studs is determined by the width of the cooperating panel section whereby the opposite free edge of the panel will engage the outer edge of the adjacent stud. By providing an appropriate clip secured to the otherwise free edge of the panel section, forcing said section against the adjacent vertical stud will cause the clip to yieldably engage the stud to semipermanently retain the panel in juxtaposition therewith.

Means is also provided by this invention for postioning the panels in abutting relation, irrespective of slight irregularities in the associated floor surface. An adjustable base is provided having relatively movable parts whereby a panel supporting portion may be positioned at any desired level with respect to a floor-engag'ng portion.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a wall partition incorporating the teaching of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the wall of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a clip employed in the embodiment of Fig. l; I

Fig. 4 illustrates an alternate clip for use in a second embodment of this invention;

Fig. 5 is a section-a1 plan view of a portion of a wall section illustrating the alternate embodiment of Fig. 4 in use;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of an alternate embodiment of this invention utilizing a butt joint type of panel assembly;

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of a wall partition similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating one feature of this invention for assembling a runner and associated stud;

Fig. 8 illustrates the runner and stud assembly of Fig. 7 with the panel sections removed;

Fig. 9 is a partial view in elevation of a stud and runner similar to that shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the stud shoe utilized in the embodiment of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a partial perspective view of a wall partition similar to that shown in Fig. l and utilizing a base assembly for adjusting the vertical positions of associated panel sections;

Fig. 12 illustrates in elevation the base assembly shown in Fig. 11 with a change of position shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the base assembly of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view in section taken along the line 1414 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a partial perspective view of a wall partition similar to that shown in Fig. 11, but showing one additional stud and associated partition elements, and

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of a base portion very similar to that shown in Fig. 11, but illustrating a reversal of the adjusting slots and apertures for the bolts.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, a wall partition 10 is partially shown comprising a longitudinal channel-shaped runner 12 having a web portion 14 which is secured to the flooring of a building and a pair of substantially vertical flanges 16 and 18 against which the partition panels abut. ,A similar runner is secured to the ceiling in parallel coplanar relationship with runner l2, and a plurality of vertical members or studs 20 extend between the floor runner 12 and the associated ceiling runner. The studs 2.0 are secured within the channel-shaped runners in a manner to be described. The stud 20 has a channel shape comprising a central web '22 and a pair of coextensive legs 24 and 26. Extending outwardly from the free end of legs 24 and 26 are a pair of flanges 28 and 30 substantially parallel to the web 22 and having lips 32 and 34 extending therefrom and overlying a portion of the associated legs 24 and 26. As shown in this embodiment, the panels mounted on the superstructure comprising interconnected runners and vertical studs are gypsum board panels of a laminated construction having shiplap edges. The panels '36 and 38 are placed in substantially parallel relationship on opposite sides of the runner 12 and are positioned whereby the internal extending edges 40 and 42 are received in the recess formed in stud 20 by flanges 28 and 3t and associated lips 32. and 34. The flanges 28 and 30 are of a predetermined Width whereby the-recess will substantially conform to the extending edge of the laminated partition. While the partition sections are here shown constructed of a laminated gypsum board, it is believed clear that any type panel may be substituted therefor, such as a wooden or metal panel having shiplap joints formed along opposed parallel edges. As will be described with respect to subsequent figures, other edges may also be employed in place of the shiplap shown here. The sections 36 and 38 will engage a second stud similar to stud 20 along the free edge parallel to the edge shown herein and will engage this second stud in a manner to be described.

Similarly, a second pair of panel sections 44 and 46 are secured in a stud similar to stud 20 positioned above the runner 12 at a point to the left of stud 20 as viewed in Fig. 1. As the inner extending edges of these panels are engaged in the recesses of the spaced stud, the portions of panels 44 and 46 shown in Fig. 1 have outer extending edges 48 and 50 which overlie the lip portions 32 and "34 of the stud 20. The outer extending portions 48 and '50 of panels 44 and 46 will abut the recessed edges of the adjacent panels 36 and 38 and may have beveled edges 52 to correspond to similarly beveled edges 54 of panels 36 and 38 to produce an aesthetic panel point.

The otherwise free edges of the panels are secured against the associated studs in this invention by attachment clips '56, one of which is here shown secured to panel 44 to engage the associated stud 20. The clip has a flange portion secured in the panel and an extending wedge portion which yieldably engages the associated stud to securely maintain the panel in position thereagainst. The individual panel 44 may, however, be removed from its position against the stud by the insertion of the hook-like tool 45 through a drilled aperture 47 and grasping the handle 49 and pulling outwardly, away from stud 20 with sufiicient force to deform clip 56 to free the panel. The aperture 47 may be plugged in any convenient manner after replacing the panel.

The construction of clips 56 is more clearly shown in Fig. 3. As shown therein, the clip comprises a body 6 having a panel-engaging flange 62 extending therefrom at substantially 90 and a wedge-shaped or detent portion 64 comprising an angular disposed Web 66 extending outwardly from the body 60 generally opposite flange 62. The end portion 68 of wedge or detent 64 is angularly disposed with respect to the web 66 and substantially overlies said web to facilitate insertion of the panel section into a wall. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the angularly disposed web 66 engages the junction of one of the stud legs 24 or 26 and the associated flange 28 or 30. As the clip 56 is made of a resilient material, this engagement will yieldably maintain the extended portions 48 and 50 of panel sections 44 and 46 in abutting relationship against the lips 32 and 34. It may be found desirable to recess the laminae of the panel sections along the'shiplap edges thereof to produce a better joint having a smoother surface to correspond with the remainder of the partition. As shown in Fig. 2 the inner laminae 70 and 72 are recessed along the surfaces which abut the outer laminae 74 and 76 whereby a space is provided therebetween to receive the flange 62 of the associated attachment clips 56. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2, the inner-laminae 78 and 80 of adjacent panel sections 36 and 38 have'a reduced inner extending edge 'toreceiv'e the lips '32 and 34 without producing undesirable "bulging of the shiplap joint.

A second embodiment of this invention'is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, differing from that above described only in the construction of the clip 82, which is similar in many details to the clip 56. The clip 82 has a body 84 and a substantially perpendicular flange 86 extending therefrom to engage the shiplap edge of a panel. A wedge portion 88 extends from the opposite edge of body 84 substantially .as described above but has a resilient portion 90 struck out therefrom alon'g'the surface of the wedgeadjacent to the body 84. This struckout portion is adapted to engage the leg 26 of an associated stud 28 to produce more positive engagement of the clip and stud to prevent unauthorized or accidental removal of the panel section 46. The struckout portion 90 will have suflicientresiliency to permit removal of the panel section 46 when a tool such as a screw driver is forced into the joint 92 formed by the abutting panels, but a greater force will be required to effect removal of the panel section than in the embodiment shown and described above which omits the resilient struckout portion.

An alternate embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 6 which utilizes a modified butt joint and a stud member having a modified cross section. Each of the panels utilized in this embodiment has a pair'of free substantially parallel edges, one of which has laminations which are conterminous, and the other parallel edge has laminations terminating in shiplap relationship. Panels 94 and 36 partially shown in Fig. 6 have the edges thereof illustrated in which the laminations 'are conterminous, and adjacent panel sections 98 and 100, partially shown, illustrate the shiplap edge. The modified stud 102 utilized in this embodiment has a central web 104 extending partially beyond the inner "surface of the panel sections and has legs 106 and 108 extending substantially normal thereto. Flanges 110 and 112 extend outwardly from the legs 106 and 108 substantially parallel to the central web 104 to a point corresponding to the juncture of the laminations of the associated panel section's. Lips 114 and 11 6 are formed along the free edges of flanges 110 and 112 to overlie the legs 106 and 108 and extend therebeyond to engage the conterminous edge of the respective. panel sections 94 and 96 between the laminations thereof. The outer extending portions 118 and 120 of the shiplap edges of the adjacent panel sections 98 and engage the portions of lips 114 and 116, respectively, which overlie the legs 106 and 108. Clip means 122 and 124 are forced between the laminations of the panel sections 98 and 100 and are so shaped that they resiliently engage thestud member 102 along the junctures of legs 106 and 108 and the associated flanges and 112. Each clip will be formed in a manner somewhat similar to the clip illustrated in Fig. 3 but eliminates the body portion 60' there illustrated to accommodate the modified stud design. The clips must be of a resilient material whereby they may firstbe forced into the space between the laminations of the associated panel section, after which the panel section may. be-forced against the stud with the extending portion of the shiplap edge in engagement therewith. The wedge-like portions 126 and. 128 must yield when engaging the stud 102 to pass thereover and subsequently engage the inner edges thereof to maintain the panel sections in the desired positions.

This construction has several advantages over that shown in Fig. 2. The clips are of a simple design, and greater dimensional tolerance may be allowed as the abutting edges of adjacent panel sections do not co-- operate in close integrated engagement as in the firstdescribed embodiment.

The stud 20 of Fig. 1 may be supported on the runner 12 during assembly of the wall partition in the manner hereinafter described. Once the partition is completed, the presence of the panel sections will insure maintenance of the position of the stud 20, but during assembly of a wall it is especially desirable that means he provided to position the studs prior to the placement of the associated panel sections. One particular means for accomplishing this positioning is illustrated in Figs. 7l0. Therein a stud shoe 130 is shown connecting a stud 20 to an associated runner 12. The runner v12 is ofthe channel type construction described with respect to Fig. 1 and has a base portion 14 and a pair of upstanding, substantially parallel, coextensive flanges 16 and 18. The stud shoe 130 is of a channel-like construction comprising a central web 132 and a pair of sides 134 and 136 which are substantially parallel and coextensive. The width of central web 132 is so selected that the sides 134 and 136 substantially lie along the inner surfaces of runner flanges 16 and 18 when the stud shoe is assembled within the runner 12. The upper portion 138 of the central web 132 is formed outwardly from the plane of the central web to provide stud-receiving slots 140 and 142 between the formed portion 138 and the edges of the central web 132. A transverse portion 144 interconnects the formed portion 138 with the remainder of the web and may be so positioned as to provide support for the stud 20 when it is received within the slots 140 and 142. The manner of assembly of these parts is more clearly shown in the perspective view of Fig. 8 wherein it may clearly be seen that the stud shoe 130 is vertically positioned between the upright flanges 16 and 18 of the runner 12 which is secured to a flooring member 146. The formed portion 138 of the stud shoe extends upwardly from the upper edge of the sides 16 and 18, and the central web 22 of the stud 20 is received between the formed portion 138 and the remainder of the stud shoe 130. The central web 22 may rest upon the footing 144 at the lower edge of the formed portion 138, and the lower edges of the legs 24 and 26 extending normally from the central web 22 of the stud 20 will abut against the free edges of the flanges 16 and 18. The stud shoe 130 may be secured in place within the channellike runner 12 by fastening means such as sheet metal screw 131 driven through aligned apertures in the parts.

This assembly provides means by which the runner and associated studs may be quickly and easily positioned and the exact placement of the studs may be altered as the associated panels are applied thereto whereby the studs may be moved to compensate for small dimensional discrepancies in the individual panel sections.

A supporting base for the panel sections of the partition herein described is illustrated in Figs. 11-l6. Though every effort is made in the construction of buildings to produce floors and ceilings which are perfectly planar surfaces, small discontinuities and curvatures are present in both newly constructed and existing buildings. To compensate for these variations in wall height and for any small discrepancies in the dimensions of individual panel sections, the panels are supported on a base 148 having a runner 158 which is secured to the floor 152 by nails 154 or similar attaching means and a panel-supporting section 156 which is adjustably supported in a determinable spaced relationship with respect to the runner 150. As shown in Fig. 11 a stud 20 is positioned within an aperture in the member 156 of the base 148 and receives panel sections 158, 166, 162, and 164 in the manner described in detail with respect to Fig. 1. The clip means as described with respect to Fig. l are utilized to support the panel sections 162 and 164 against the stud 20 but have here been omitted to simplify the disclosure and better illustrate the teachings of this invention. The

panels and 164 rest upon a horizontal surface 166 of the panel-supporting member 156, and the panels 158- and 162 rest on a similar oppositely disposed horizontal portion 168. The panel-supporting portion 156 of base 148 comprises a central web 170 having a pair of sub-' stantially parallel coextensive legs 172 and 174 from which the horizontal supporting portions 166 and 168 extend. -Formed downwardly from the free edges of the horizontal portions 166 and 168 are flanges 176 and 178 which overlie and are substantially parallel to flanges 180 and 182 of the runner 150.

A wall partition similar to that shown in Fig. 11 and described above is illustrated in Fig. 15. The partition includes two upright studs 20 with two substantially parallel overlying panels 162 and 164 secured therebetween. As clearly shown in Fig. 15 each of the panels is secured in the left-hand stud 20 by an interlocking engagement with a recess 28 or 30 formed in the stud. The panel 164, for example, is engaged within the recessed flange 30 along its left-hand edge and rests against a corresponding flange in the right-hand stud 20. The only means for supporting panel 164 in position against the studs is the engagement of the plurality of resilient clips 56 with the inner edge of the right-hand stud 20. Also shown in Fig. 15 are two supporting base assemblies, including the runner and adjustable supports. To the right of the assembly just described are identical panel sections 158 and 160 secured between the right-hand stud 20 and an additional stud, not shown, in a manner identical to that already described with respect to sections 162 and 164. To the left of the left-hand stud 20, panels 162a and 164a are supported in an identical manner between left-hand stud 20 and an additional stud, not shown. Resilient clips 56 also retain these panels 162a and 164a against the left-hand stud 20.

As shown in Fig. 12 the flange 176 of the panel-supporting portion 156 has angularly disposed slots 184 therein through each of which a bolt 186 is passed. Holes or apertures 187 are provided in the sides 180 and 182 in alignment with the slots 184 to receive the bolt 186 therethrough whereby a nut 188 (not shown in Fig. 12) may be secured to the bolt to produce locking means for insuring any desired positional relationship between the runner 150 and the panel-supporting member 156. The construction of the runner 150 panel-supporting section 156, and the manner in which the bolts 186 and associated nuts 188 are secured thereto are shown more clearly in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 14. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 12 a wide latitude of adjustment is provided whereby the panel-supporting portion 156 may be secured at any one of a plurality of determinable positions. As illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 12, the panel-receiving surfaces 166 and 168 are at their lowest possible position, and the uppermost positions of the panel-receiving surfaces are shown by dotted lines 190. An alternate construction is illustrated in Fig. 16 wherein the adjustment of the panel-supporting portion 156 with respect to the runner 150 is obtained with equal facility by disposing angular slots 184a in the base 150 with only an aperture provided in the panel-supporting portion 156. The bolt 186 thus passes through the angular slot 184a and the aperture in the panel-supporting portion 156. The widths of panel-receiving surfaces 166 and .168 are substantially the thickness of the panels, whereby the outer surface of the panels will be substantially coplanar with the outer surfaces of the adjacent flanges 176 and 178. Likewise, the width of the central web 170 will be determined by the desired spacing between the parallel planar sections. Apertures 192 may be provided in the central web 22 of the stud 20 whereby electrical wiring may be passed therethrough in the conventional manner as heretofore known.

A demountable partition assembled in accordance with this invention may then be utilized as a base for the application of plaster to produce a finished wall, or the gypsum board surface may comprise the finished outer wall. In

base 148' will 'be concealed and the adjustments thereof not subject to unauthorized alteration.

The demountablewall construction taught'by this invention may be employed wherever it is desired to subdivide :a given space. The structure is readily assembled and secured in place and requires no exceptional skills or craftsmen. The bases shown in Fig. 11 are first placed upon the horizontal surface and secured thereto. Thepanel-supporting surfaces are then aligned in colinear relation and the studs positioned in the apertures provided therefor. single runner may be employed asshown in Fig. 7 with the studs secured thereto by studshoes, as described hereinabove. v

The panel sections are then placed between adjacent studs and secured there by means of the clip means described and shown in Figs. 1-6.

While several particular embodiments have been described herein, all of which have employed metallic channel-shaped runners and vertical studs and a plurality of panels disposed on either side of the runners and studs to completely enclose these members, it is believed clear from the disclosure and the knowledge of the art that the teaching of this invention may be employed using a single set of panels mounted against an outside wall or the like or may be employed utilizing other supporting structures, either of metal or other material. Furthermore, while the structures herein described utilize a laminated gypsum board for panel sections, it is believed clear that other materials may be used and that the sections may be either laminated or of solid construction. If a solid panel is utilized it may be found desirable to provide the panel-engaging flanges 62 and 86 of attachment clips 56 and 82 with pointed extremities, whereby the clip may be readily forced into the panel along the inner surface of the shiplap edge thereof.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the character of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, while retaining certain features which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a building construction, a base comprising a channel-shaped runner having a web portion and substantially parallel coextensive legs, said legs having elongated slots therein angularly disposed with respect to the web portion, and a planar section supporting member having a central web portion, two substantially parallel coextensive side members, a leg portion extending outwardly from the free edge of each of said side members substantially parallel to said central web, and a flange extending from the free edge of each of said leg portions, said flanges being substantially coextensive and parallel to said side members, and having slot-engaging means for positioning said supporting member in spaced relationship to said base.

2. In a building construction including a planar wall section; a channel-shaped base having a plurality of parallel elongated slots therein; a planar section-supporting member having a central web portion, a planar sectionengaging portion and a pair of substantially parallel coextensive flanges; and slot-engaging means secured to said flanges for positioning said supporting member in spaced relationship to said base.

3. In a building wall construction, a pair of elongate substantially parallel spaced supporting studs, a rectilinear planar section having two substantially parallel edges and a substantially smooth outer surface, one of said studs and one of said edges having cooperating interlocking means whereby said planar section may be shifted sub Where the floor is substantially lever 21 stantially parallel to the plane thereof to interlock with said stud preventing relative movement of the one of said edges generally normal to the plane of said section,

the other of saidedgescooperating with the other of said studs limiting movement of the-other edge of said planar section transversely of the plane thereof, resilient clip means including a clip portion secured to said planar section adjacent said other edge and a yieldable detent portion extending transversely away from said smooth outer" surface-,- transverse" movement of said other edge toward said other stud providing yielding engagement of said detent portion with said other stud whereby said planar section is held in juxtaposed relationship against said other stud and removable without substantial damage thereto, and adjustable base means receiving said studs whereby said studs may be shifted longitudinally in the plane of said'pla'n'ar section to support said planar section at a desired height in juxtaposition with said studs whereby said studs and said edges are maintained in substantially parallel relationship.

4. In a building wall construction, base means, a plurality of elongated substantially parallel coplanar spaced supporting studs supported in said base means and extending substantially normal thereto, each of said studs having aligned longitudinal recesses therein, connecting means positioning said supporting studs on said base means in a predetermined relationship, said supporting studs being longitudinally shiftable relative to said base means, a plurality of planar sections, two of said sections being positioned between each pair of adjacent shiftable supporting studs in parallel spaced relationship, each of said sections having an edge thereof received in a corresponding one of said longitudinal recesses in one of said pair of studs and a substantially parallel edge in juxtaposition with but outwardly of the other adjacent supporting stud, and clip means secured to each of said planar sections and extending inwardly therefrom to removably engage said other adjacent supporting stud, each of said clip means comprising a body portion lying along the edge of the associated section, a flange extending from said body portion and secured in the associated section, and a yieldable detent means extending from said body portion opposite said flange, said yieldable detent means removably engaging the adjacent supporting stud whereby adjacent planar sections are substantially coplanar and selectively removable without substantial damage thereto.

5. In a building wall construction; a runner; a planar section-supporting member having an apertured central web portion, a planar section-engaging portion, and a pair of substantially parallel coextensive flanges; adjustable securing means fixing said flanges to said runner in predetermined relationship; a planar section mounted on said planar section-engaging portion; stud means mounted on said runner for movement longitudinally along said runner and extending substantially normal thereto through an aperture in said central web portion; each of said stud means being formed to receive an upright edge of an adjacent planar section; and detachable clip means secured to said planar section along the other upright edge and resiliently and detachably engaging an adjacent stud means to maintain the relative positions thereof whereby adjacent planar sections are substantially coplanar and selectively removable without substantial damage thereto.

6. In a building wall construction; a runner; a planar section supporting member having an apertured central web portion, a planar section engaging portion, and a pair of substantially parallel coextensive flanges; adjustable securing means fixing said flanges to said runner in predetermined relationship; and stud means mounted on said runner and extending substantially normal thereto through the aperture in said central web, said stud means being shiftable longitudinally along said runner Within the aperture in said central web.

7. In a building construction including a planar wall section; a channel-shaped base; a planar section-supporting member having a central web portion, a planar section-engaging portion and a pair of substantially parallel coextensive flanges, each of said coextending flanges having a plurality of parallel elongated slots therein; and slot-engaging means secured to said channel-shaped base for positioning said supporting member in spaced relationship to said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent 10 Lenke June 18, 1935 Price Oct. 6, 1936 Parsons Feb. 23, 1937 Justement Mar. 8, 1938 McGee Oct. 1, 1940 Muller Sept. 9, 1941 Grotta Feb. 17, 1942 Anderson Apr. 27, 1943 LaGrotta Dec. 14, 1943 Manofsky Feb. 8, 1944 Daitch et a1. Mar. 2, 1954 Nelsson Jan. 18, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 14, 1951 

